Prof Mark Kearney and Dr Louise Wood bring expertise and knowledge to steer the organisation

The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) has welcome two health research experts to its board.

Professor Mark Kearney, Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Leeds, has been elected as Board Director, representing the alliance’s university members.

Dr Louise Wood CBE, formerly Director of Science, Research & Evidence at the Department of Health and Social Care and Deputy CEO of the National Institute for Health and Care Research, has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director.

The NHSA is a health and life sciences partnership between 10 universities and 10 research-intensive NHS Trusts across the North of England. The Alliance works closely with its members to promote health research, innovation and life sciences in the North and to increase awareness of and drive investment into the region. 

Both Mark and Louise will bring their expertise and knowledge to help steer the NHSA as it continues to build on its reputation as a prominent health and life sciences cluster.  

Professor Mark Kearney said: “I am looking forward to working with the NHSA board to help guide the future direction of the alliance. Having worked in the North for many years, I understand the unparalleled strengths we have across the health and life sciences sector and I feel passionately that this excellence deserves to be recognised and invested in.  

“The NHSA has already achieved fantastic accomplishments since its inception to address some of the challenges we face in the North, and I am excited to play an active role in building on these achievements.”

In addition to his role at the University of Leeds, Professor Kearney is British Heart Foundation’s Professor of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research and clinical consultant cardiologist with an interest in the mechanisms underlying diabetes related heart disease and the natural history and new treatments for patients with heart failure.

He has served on the research committee of Diabetes UK and on the project and fellowship committees of the British Heart Foundation. His research group includes members with a wide range of skills addressing the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Dr Louise Wood CBE said: “I am delighted to be joining the NHSA as a Non-Executive Director and do so with a commitment to championing the North’s health and life sciences strengths.

“As a Boltonian, I’m keen to support collaboration of the NHSA’s member organisations to harness the power of research and innovation to improve health, address inequalities and generate prosperity in the North.”

Alongside her new role on the NHSA Board, Dr Wood is also Chair of the Association of Medical Research Charities and of Moorfields Eye Charity. She has previously served as a Council Member for the Medical Research Council and member of Advisory Boards for the British Heart Foundation, LifeArc and Wellcome. Louise was elected an honorary fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine in 2011, honorary fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2023 and awarded a CBE for services to health research in 2019.

Both appointments follow the recent announcement of the NHSA’s new Chief Executive, Hannah Davies, and Board Chair, Professor Louise Kenny, and the recent success of the Woman of the North report, which was launched in Parliament last month highlighting the stark inequalities women in the North of England face.

Professor Louise Kenny, Board Chair of the NHSA, said: “Having strong leadership at the NHSA, with a range of representatives who can bring new ideas and strategic vision to our team, is absolutely crucial. I am delighted to welcome Mark and Louise to help us take forward our ambitious plans for the future.”

Hannah Davies, Chief Executive of the NHSA said: “I am thrilled to welcome Louise and Mark to our Board, they are both renowned in their fields as pioneers in health research and I have no doubt they will bring highly valued expertise and leadership to our organisation.”

Mark and Louise join current board members Professor Phil Wood, Chief Executive at The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Dr Kath Mackay, Chief Scientific Officer of Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park, and Dr Jonathan Sheffield OBE.